Released 31 July 1989 Genre Electropop | Format 7", 12", CD, VHS Length 7:04 | |
Label KLF Communications (UK) Writer(s) Jimmy Cauty, Bill Drummond | ||
"Kylie Said to Jason" was a 1989 single by The KLF, "Kylie" being Kylie Minogue and "Jason" being Jason Donovan, then stars in the popular Australian TV soap opera Neighbours. Designed for chart success, the single nonetheless failed to enter the UK top 100.
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Background
In 1989, The KLF embarked upon the creation of a road movie and soundtrack album, both titled The White Room, funded by the profits from their number one hit single, "Doctorin' the Tardis". The film project was fraught with difficulties and setbacks, including dwindling funds. Ultimately, neither the film nor its soundtrack would be formally released, but one track from the aborted album, "Kylie Said to Jason", saw commercial release.
"Kylie Said to Jason" was intended to be a top 10 record which The KLF — Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty — were hoping could "rescue them from the jaws of bankruptcy". Instead, it flopped commercially, failing even to make the UK top 100 and forcing the entire film and soundtrack project to be put on hold. The release did peak at number 6 on the UK Indie Singles Chart during August 1989.
Composition
"Kylie Said to Jason" ( sample ) is an electropop record whose title and lyrics allude to Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan ("Scott and Charlene"), then stars in the popular Australian TV soap opera, Neighbours. The lyrics also feature references to Archie Bunker, Todd Terry, Rolf Harris, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo and BBC comedy programmes The Good Life and Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.
Drummond and Cauty confessed that on "Kylie Said to Jason" they had worn "Pet Shop Boys infatuations brazenly on [their] sleeves". True to this claim, the lush synth chorus and house piano recalls several Pet Shop songs, while the rap vocal recalls West End Girls.
The CD single release of "Kylie" also premiered the track "Madrugada Eterna" which would later be a central piece on The KLF's ambient house album, Chill Out. "Madrugada Eterna" (meaning "eternal dawn" in Spanish) is an ambient piece, featuring pedal guitar played by Graham Lee, and samples a detailed news report of a fatal road accident from American radio.
Reviews
Mentioning "Kylie Said to Jason" retrospectively, Q magazine called the song "supremely wry", and NME called it "Pet Shop Boys-lovely".
Formats and track listings
"Kylie Said to Jason" was first released in the UK by KLF Communications on 31 July 1989. The CD single was released on 7 August.
Given the poor sales of the recording, and the subsequent increase in interest in The KLF, the CD single of "Kylie Said to Jason" became a moderately valuable collectors' item, a mint condition copy being worth £30 in 2000.
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